Boydell's bonnie Morpeth menu inspired by chef Paula Renggar's Scottish heritage | Food Bites

You have to be a Boydell's 1826 wine club member to experience it on June 16 and 23, however the menu gives us an insight into what inspires her cooking.

Renggar joined the Boydell's team last year following a 20-year stint as owner and head chef at Shakey Tables restaurant in the Hunter Valley. Prior to that, she ran a hotel and restaurant on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. She grew up in the coastal villages of Fife.

"What I love about Scottish food is the history and the connection it has to the traditions of the people," Renggar said.

"To create this menu I focused on choosing quintessentially iconic ingredients like whisky, haggis, black pudding and game, and then built the dishes from that starting point. I also wanted to incorporate classic winter favourites like chestnuts which are in season right now."

The six-course menu will include haggis bon bons and whisky cream (paired with Boydell's 2021 Sparkling Verdelho); scallops and black pudding with pea puree and pork scratchings (Boydell's 2021 Verdelho, 2021 Pinot Gris); and roulade of pheasant with chestnuts, bacon and sloe gin jus (Boydell's 2020 Shiraz Pinot).

Oh! My Papa is poised to open at East End Newcastle. A "building challenge" has pushed the opening day back a week, and they now hope to launch on June 24. Oh! My Papa is a sibling to The Humble Thai and The Grateful Thai but slightly different. It's a bar and restaurant serving a share-plate menu and is described as a "touch of Asian flavours" - think fresh lettuce wrapped in sliced pork; asparagus wrapped with bacon; skewers; and grilled corn with miso and butter.

LuLu's Gelato Company has launched a winter menu that caught my eye: hot gelato pie; hot triple chocolate brownie with your choice of scoop of gelato and hot chocolate sauce; and hot gluten-free triple chocolate brownie with your choice of gluten-free gelato and gluten-free caramel sauce.

You can find the LuLu's Kombi van outside Coles at Glendale.

Mr Rice on Darby Street is now serving yum cha (Wednesday to Monday, 11am to 4pm) featuring dishes like har gow (shrimp dumplings in dim sum), BBQ buns and sticky rice chicken. This is in addition to their already extensive Sichuan food offering. Book by phoning 4009 1561.

Hungry Wolf's Belmont has relocated to Jewells Plaza on Ntaba Road. The family-owned-and-operated pizza and pasta business has five restaurants on the Central Coast and another at Adamstown.

"It has been a couple of months in the making as the owners sold the premises in Belmont," Maria Maisano said. "Everything has remained the same just the location has changed, and we have a longer lease here."

Maria's father, Dominic, was born and raised in Calabria, Italy, and started working in pizza shops at the age of 14. He opened Hungry Wolf's flagship restaurant at Terrigal more than three decades ago.

McLeish Estate is hosting the Hunter Highland Lunch on September 18 at 40 De Beyers Road, Pokolbin. A ticket entitles you to Duke Cuvee sparkling and canapes on arrival and a three-course Scottish-inspired lunch paired with McLeish Estate wines. There will be a pipe band as well as Highland games and dancing. Bookings are essential.

If you're quick (and feeling lucky) you might be able to grab one of the few remaining tickets to Downtown Beirut's vegan banquet tonight or tomorrow night (June 16 and 17). Tickets are $45 by phoning 0449 716 725 or 4031 4731 (25 Beaumont Street, Islington).

Beerhaus Kotara has re-opened after many months in lockdown and is celebrating with a host of special deals. On Wednesdays, plate-sized schnitzels will set you back just $12 (usually $22 to $24) and on Thursdays you can enjoy one-cent chicken wings until 7pm (available with a full priced drink, maximum 10 wings per drink).

Fridays are for footy fans, with games screened live across 20 large-screen TVs and $1 wings on offer from 6pm (again, available with a full priced drink, maximum 10 wings per drink). Explore the $10 cocktails on tap on Saturdays including Strawberry Margarita, Lychee Paradise, Appletini and Elderflower Garden. On Sundays a slow-roast pork belly with glazed Dutch carrots, creamy mash, red cabbage, Yorkshire pudding, apple compote and onion gravy is available for $20 from noon until sold out.

"We are thrilled to finally be reopening Beerhaus Kotara following the COVID-19 lockdown," food and beverage director John Sullivan said. "We've decided to ramp up the fun and offer even greater affordability at Beerhaus Kotara, which has always had a loyal following of beer fans and customers who are looking to blend a meal with an entertainment experience."

Beerhaus is open Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 9pm (10pm on Saturday and Sunday) on The Rooftop at Westfield Kotara.

In the Baltics, two worlds meet: the Baltic Sea joins Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, bringing with it culinary influences and cultural exchange.

Amber & Rye by Zuza Zak explores this exciting part of Eastern Europe, guiding you around the capitals, sharing stories and discovering a dynamic, new style of cooking. The recipes explore new culinary horizons, are grounded in Baltic tradition, yet inspired by contemporary trends, making them modern, unique and easy to recreate at home.

Amber & Rye is out now through Murdoch Books, RRP $49.99. Food & Wine has a copy to give away. To enter, send the words "Amber & Rye" with your name, address and number to freelunch@newcastleherald.com.au. Entries close on Monday at 9am.

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